State: Jersey City decision has 'no bearing' on Newark schools' path
NEWARK – Mayor Ras Baraka and other city leaders praised the state's decision Wednesday to hand control of Jersey City's schools back to local officials, hoping it might prove a boon to its own hopes for independence.
The state, however, cautioned that the city's road may prove much different than its neighbor to the east.
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Baraka said he believed the State Board of Education's decision to forgo oversight in Jersey City after nearly 30 years signaled that it "clearly recognizes that this is no longer an effective policy for students, families or teachers."
Hopes were already high that local control could be returned to Newark as early as 2016, though those charged with charting the course havecautioned that it is unlikely.
Those prospects may have gotten a boost with Wednesday's news, though state officials cautioned that Newark and Jersey City's positions along the road to educational independence are far from analogous.
The state took over Jersey City's schools in 1989, five years before Newark, and has been steadily granted more control over its operations in recent years.
MORE: Board says major hurdles remain on Newark's path to local control
School officials there have enjoyed control over governance and finance issues in 2007, and more recently convinced the state to allow them more latitude in operations and personnel decisions, including the ability to choose their own superintendent, making Wednesday's decision merely another step on an already well-worn path.
In Newark, the situation is far murkier. The district has improved its graduation rates, but other measurements, including the crucial state Quality Single Accountability Continuum, show progress that is mixed a best.
While the city's School Advisory Board has regained some control over school financial and operations decisions, the state still wields the power to overrule any of their decisions.
In a statement, Department of Education Deputy Press Secretary David Saenz said the decision regarding Jersey City was indicative of the state's commitment to returning State: Jersey City decision has 'no bearing' on Newark schools' path | NJ.com:
